4 ms·

You are correct about the dogs and I do not understand why, can you explain? There are countless newspaper articles about how all the animal shelters have had

You are correct about the dogs and I do not understand why, can you explain? There are countless newspaper articles about how all the animal shelters have had all their dogs adopted out in the last two weeks, for the first time ever. Is it single people wanting a companion while they work from home?

aparks517 7y ago
It could be just that simple. I wonder too if there's pent-up demand. I think it's best when bringing a dog into a new home if you can be around a lot to help them learn the ropes. I guess that goes double for a puppy, but I think it applies to mature dogs too. If other folks think the same way, this might be a good opportunity for them to do something they'd been putting off.
bmelton 7y ago
I've had a lot of dogs, and dog ownership isn't a new thing to me. That said, the last dog I got was during a break between jobs that I ended up extending. I watched videos on Youtube to train her with (Thanks, Zak George) and worked with her in ways that I've never done with another pet and wow, this is easily the best dog I've ever had. The very early bits were the usual stuff. Kennel training is sad, so I made it a little easier by sleeping on a palette next to the kennel, with my hand through the cage for contact. Two or three nights of that, and I've never had another kennel problem again. Teaching a dog to sit (the right way) takes about 5 minutes if you do it right, and another couple of weeks of periodic reinforcement. Teaching a dog to sit when she's excited you just got home? That takes longer. I'm rambling, but the point I was trying to get to is that I won't ever get another dog again unless I have at least a couple of months to devote to that initial training. Forming that bond, building those habits, it's made me realize how much of a disservice I've done to every other dog I've ever had that I've gotten and then left to go to work. For the folks who've adopted new dogs in this, I almost hope that we're self-sequestered for long enough that their dogs get better than what I've historically given mine, but either way, a well trained pup can brighten every day they're around, and I'm happy to see the trend of what I hope is responsible pet adoption.
dTal 7y ago
In some places like Spain, "walking the dog" is the only valid excuse to go for a walk at all. (Strange how it's acceptable to deprive humans of exercise, but inhumane to deprive dogs!)

aparks517 7y ago

It could be just that simple. I wonder too if there's pent-up demand. I think it's best when bringing a dog into a new home if you can be around a lot to help them learn the ropes. I guess that goes double for a puppy, but I think it applies to mature dogs too. If other folks think the same way, this might be a good opportunity for them to do something they'd been putting off.

bmelton 7y ago

I've had a lot of dogs, and dog ownership isn't a new thing to me. That said, the last dog I got was during a break between jobs that I ended up extending. I watched videos on Youtube to train her with (Thanks, Zak George) and worked with her in ways that I've never done with another pet and wow, this is easily the best dog I've ever had. The very early bits were the usual stuff. Kennel training is sad, so I made it a little easier by sleeping on a palette next to the kennel, with my hand through the cage for contact. Two or three nights of that, and I've never had another kennel problem again. Teaching a dog to sit (the right way) takes about 5 minutes if you do it right, and another couple of weeks of periodic reinforcement. Teaching a dog to sit when she's excited you just got home? That takes longer. I'm rambling, but the point I was trying to get to is that I won't ever get another dog again unless I have at least a couple of months to devote to that initial training. Forming that bond, building those habits, it's made me realize how much of a disservice I've done to every other dog I've ever had that I've gotten and then left to go to work. For the folks who've adopted new dogs in this, I almost hope that we're self-sequestered for long enough that their dogs get better than what I've historically given mine, but either way, a well trained pup can brighten every day they're around, and I'm happy to see the trend of what I hope is responsible pet adoption.

dTal 7y ago

In some places like Spain, "walking the dog" is the only valid excuse to go for a walk at all. (Strange how it's acceptable to deprive humans of exercise, but inhumane to deprive dogs!)